Lack of air capacity hampers repatriation efforts

Tens of thousands of British passengers are still stranded abroad as the fallout from the volcanic ash plane groundings continues.
British airspace was reopened on Tuesday but airlines are still working through the backlog of cancelled flights, with some passengers facing a further week of waiting to return home.
The Association of British Travel Agents said it hoped to have repatriated more than 100,000 passengers by Monday.An estimated 10,000 are stranded in Egypt, 8,000 in India, 9,000 in Florida and 2,500 in Thailand, according to industry figures compiled by the BBC.
The skies over the UK and much of northern Europe were declared a no-fly zone for six days as a result of the ash cloud pouring from an erupting Icelandic volcano.
Virgin Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson today criticised the Government for “overreacting” in banning all air traffic and is calling for them to compensate the industry. His airline is among those appealing to customers who are booked on flights for this weekend to volunteer to give up their seats to stranded passengers.
24/04/10 Robin Henry/Times Online, UK

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Categories: Airports Apr 2010, Foreign Apr 2010, Indian Aviation- In General Apr 2010